The proposed development on Stone Farm Lane would permanently alter the quiet, rural character of our neighborhood an area many of us chose for its peaceful setting, natural beauty, and RA zoning. This is not just another housing project. It’s a large-scale development that could more than double the size of our neighborhood, bringing with it serious consequences for our safety, environment, and quality of life.

Located at the end of the Rocky Mountain trail system and close to the Connecticut River, this 32.6-acre parcel is not just open land, it’s a fragile and ecologically rich environment. It includes wetlands, mature forests, and is designated as a wildlife priority habitat by the state. These woods are home to deer, birds, amphibians, and countless other species. They are also the backdrop to a quiet, close-knit residential community where families have lived for generations, trusting that the city would uphold zoning and conservation standards.

Yet, Nobel Homes, in partnership with the Valley Community Land Trust, a nonprofit that claims to “foster responsible land stewardship,” plans to develop this site with 26 condominiums on seven acres and 14 additional multi-family buildings across 21 acres. That’s 50 units across 28 of the 32 acres. This is incredibly dense and out of scale for a cul-de-sac community that was designed to be rural in character. Is this really responsible land stewardship?

It’s important to note, this is not a “by-right” development. It requires a special permit, because it doesn’t meet the character or scale of RA (urban residential) zoning. That’s not a minor detail; it’s the legal safeguard meant to prevent inappropriate development in sensitive or ill-suited areas like ours.

We understand that housing is a real need, but this is not affordable housing. It’s been presented as such in public forums, yet the units do not meet the city’s definition of affordability. Meanwhile, the scale and density of the project will strain our local infrastructure and dramatically alter the nature of our community.

We have many specific concerns not limited to:

  • Over development to a RA zone
  • Traffic access to cul-de-sac and safety
  • Emergency access
  • Parking shortages
  • Environmental degradation
  • Noise Pollution from construction and sewer pumping station
  • Burden on existing infrastructures (water\sewer)
  • Loss of privacy and neighborhood character
  • Light pollution
  • Construction for 3-5 years

Perhaps most concerning of all, there has been no meaningful public input. The neighborhood has not been consulted and abutters, who have legal rights have been largely ignored. Transparency has been minimal, and the burden of this project will fall almost entirely on current residents, with no benefit to the existing community.

We are not opposed to development. We are opposed to this specific development because it’s too large, too disruptive, and simply out of place. We believe the city’s zoning board should either deny the special permit or require a substantial reduction in scale to reflect the neighborhood’s character and capacity.

Again, we ask our city leaders to enforce existing zoning laws and take resident voices seriously. That’s what good governance demands. And that’s what we, as taxpayers and neighbors, deserve. Because if this development is approved as is, it sends a clear message: that our voices don’t matter, that our rights don’t count, and that those in power will do what they want whether we like it or not. That is not how local government should work.

We deserve better. Our neighborhood deserves better. And the land deserves better.
Please, let’s move forward with development that respects zoning, residents, and the land we all share.

Lisa Guilbault is a resident of Sunrise Avenue in Greenfield and member of the Sunrise Neighborhood Coalition.